Vapor condenser



July 2, 1935.

J. C. MAHONEY VAPOR CONDENSER Filed Jan. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-*Sheet l Jim. f. AW,

ATTORNEY.

J. C. MAHONEY VAPOR CONDENSER July 2, 1935.

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1932 hij. 4.

R. m m m v i Joh/7 @Ma/Poney BY Y ' ATTORNEY.

l Patented .Iuly 2, 1935 v l l UNITED STATES VPATENT oFFics VAPOR CONDENSER John C. Mahoney, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Alco Products, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 25, 1932, Serial No. 588,529

7 Claims. (Cl. 257-223) My invention relates to vapor condenser-s and one end into the tube sheet which is xed, and at more particularly to a vapor condenser designed the `other ends, into a plurality of oating or to condense hydrocarbon vapors under high unattached headers. The-liquid cooling medium N pressure. communicates freely betweenrthe iixed header One object of my invention is to provide a and the oating headers flowing through a pre- 5 vapor condenser which will withstand high presdetermined course in accordance with suitably sure. Y located bales.

Another object of my invention is to provide More particularly referring now to the drawmeans for eliminating stressesdue to differential ings, a supporting ring I is provided with a plu- 10 expansion of the tubes caused by temperature rality of integral lugs 2 which supportthe con- 10 differences existing in the various parts of the denser. 'I'he condenser is shown in the drawings condenser. mounted in a vertical position but it is to be A further object of my invention is to provide understood that it may be mounted horizontally an integral header-forming channel construcwithoutv departing from the spirit of my invention capable of withstanding high pressures. tion. The ring l is provided with an inlet nozu Another object of my invention is to provide a zle 3 for the vapors to be condensed, and an outcontinuous and conned gasket for the header let nozzle ft for the uncondensed portionsl of the cover enabling the production of a leak-proof vapors. The peripheral edges of the ring I are joint. provided with tongues 5 adapted to cooperate Still another object of my invention is to prowith suitable grooves in the contiguous members 20 vide an assembly in which the tubes may be in connection with a gasket Ato provide sealing readily and easily cleaned and inspected. means. Secured to the ring I by bolts 'I is a A still further object of my invention is to channel member 8. The channel member Il with provide a system of baming which will reduce its cover will hereinafter be referred to as the the fouling of the tubes. fixed header. It is an integral member, formed 25 in the accompanying drawings which form preferably from a single rolled or forged billet. part of my specification and which are to be read For condensers made in accordance with my in in connection therewith: f vention of somewhat smaller size and design, to

Figure 1 shows a side elevation partly in section withstand less high pressure, the channel memof a vapor condenser embodying one mode oi ber t may be a pressure steel casting. Integral 3o carrying out my invention. with the channel member 8 are a plurality of Figure 2 is a jogged sectional viewv taken on supporting ribs t. The ribs 8 are provided with the line 2 2 of `Figure 1. suitable openings l@ to permit the :free passage of Figure 3 is e sectional view taken on the line liquid. The function of the supporting ribs is to 3--3 of Figure l. give a sturdy construction having a high factor e5 Figure 4 is a sectional view of the main header. of safety and capable ofwithstanding high pres- Figure 5 is a partial sectional View taken on sure. Batlle plates II divide the header into a the line '5 5 of Figure 4. Y number of compartments and constrain the ow Figure 6 is a detail View showing a section of a of the cooling medium through my condenser in lo inodiication of the floating header. a predetermined path. The baille plates lI may 4o Figure i is a detail view showing a section of a be machined integral with the channel member modication oi the oating header. d or may be formed by separate plates welded lt is to be understood that like reference thereto. The upper periphery of the channel numerals in the various views are used to indicate member t is formed with a tongue I2 for cooperalike parts. tion with a groove i3 in the cover member M. et?

Ingenerahmy invention consists of a condenser The outer edges of the bame plates Il and the in which the vapors are condensed hy the heat supporting ribs t are in the same plane as 'the exchange with a circulating liquid cooling meouter edge of the tongue i2. The cover M is prodium. The condenser essentially a tube bundle vided with grooves l 5 and le for cooperation with 5o encased in a shell. The vapor to be condensed is the edges of the homes and the supporting ribs re- '50 circulated around the outside oi' the tubes. The spectively in forming liquid tight joints. The liquid cooling medium is introduced inside the bottoms of the -grooves i3, I5, and it are in the tunes from a compartment in 'the header formed same plane. Due to the fact that the bottoms of hy applying a cover to a combined cel and the grooves and the cooperating vtongues are in tube sheet member. The tubes are expanded at parallel planes, a single continuous gasket l1 may 55 l the channel member 8 by peripheral throughY bolts I8. Stud bolts I9 are provided Jfor screwing in to the supporting ribs 9. The studs may be supplied with cap nuts seated in carefully machined circular grooves upon metal gaskets.

' Each stud can be individually tightened and kept by. the channel bottom 2|'.

madeespecially heavy in cross section in order' free from leakage. The studs assist the circumferential bolting 'in holding down the channel cover against pressure. Vent plugs 20 are provided in the cover I4. The tube sheet is formed to compensate for corrosion and to withstand the high stresses which recent research has demonheaders at their opposite ends.

strated exists around the tube. holes. 'Ihe tubes 2I are made to withstand pressures up to two l thousand pounds per square inch andare secured in the tube holes in any approved manner. The channel member 8 is provided with a liquid cooling medium inlet 22 and a cooling medium outlet 23. Asv pointed'out above the channel member 8 and its cover I4 form the fixed header. Extending from the fixed heade are the tube'bundles having a plurality of independent floating The floating headers are rectangular in cross section and gen# erally elliptical in shape and are arranged so that the condensate will readily drain therefrom. 'I'he floating headersv may consist of channel members 24 which are machined out of a single 4 billet as is the-case with channel member 8. 'I'he channels 24 are provided with covers 25. 'I'he channel members 24 are provided with peripheral tongues 26 which cooperate with peripheral,

grooves 21. A one piece gasket 28 is inserted between the channel member 24 and the cover 25.v

The covers 25 are provided with suitable vent plugs26. The covers 25 aresecured to the channel members 24 by means of studsTI. The number of floating headers may be reduced by employing the floating headers construction shown in Figure 6 in which the channel members 24 are increased in size and provided with an integral supporting rib 28 in the manner of the channel member 8. The cover 25 is secured to the channel member 24 by peripheral studs;- 21' and stud bolts 29 set. into the supporting rib 28. In the modification shown in Figure '1, th header construction is reversed in that the cover 25 forms the tube sheet. The channel member 24 is secured to the cover 25 by studs 21 as before.

Baiiie plates 30'are provided between the tube bundles and extend longitudinally to define the vapor path through my condenser. They are designed to permit the shell 4to be removed. The bai'Iles may be made integral with the shell or may be an assembly clipped tothe tube bundles. While I have shown three longitudinal baille plates, it is' to be understood that a single longitudinal baiiieor, any number of .baies may be used to divide the shell into a suitablenumber of vapor compartments. vThe spacing of the bafiles' from the respective tubev sheets will depend upon the volume of the vapor to be handled. It

The tube sheet is" is tobe understood that generally the bafiies are placed between the iloating headers or, if a single baille is to be used, it will be placed between the two central headers. The central baiiie plate is provided with openings 3l to insure a commingling of the condensate formed in the vapor com-` partments to permit its withdrawal as a single is due to the fact that the incoming vapor in-l variably contains a certain amount of tar or coke, which impinges .on the tubes of the condenser.

In my vapor condenser, the vapor enters at.

the upper section of the ilrst vapor tubes through vapor inlet 3 and flows downwardly along with the condensate formed. The condensate washes down coke and keeps the tubes clean. It is pointed out that this eect is chiefly `due to the fact that in the vapor pass the baille is so arranged that the condensate and the vapor will flow in the same direction.

In the devices of the prior art in which-the vapor flows upwardly inthe first tubes and the condensate downwardly; the turbulent '1 vapor streams tend to shear away the condensate from the tube walls and expose the bare'metal to adhesion of coke or tar. i

Shell supporting ring 32 is bolted to the v`main supporting ring I by studs 33.v The tongue and grooved joint in connection with the gasket pro, vides a tight joint. The shell is riveted and the shell 34' is riveted to the shell supportingring 1 compartment of the header through inlet 22,'

passes downwardly to the floating header land'upfwardly through the tubes 2| to the second com.-

partment of the xed header', thence downwardly to the next floating header. This route isfollowed through the subsequent floating headers to the last compartment in the flxedheader where the cooling liquid leaves my'. condenser.

divided oating headers eliminate danger from excessive temperature stresses which are encountered when a single floating header is used. The separate floating heads divide the total pressure head overa series of separately bolted compartments. Each floating head is free to move as the temperature changes in its particular zone, The

use of integral rolled forgings inpressure compartments is a manifest improvement where high pressures are employed. In order to lobtain effective rates of heat transfer over a long period, it is necessary'to maintain high liquid velocities inside the tubes. Large tube diameters are used in order to reduce the tendency of thecooling medium to form deposits on the inner tube walls. Ordinarily I employ two liquid passes and in no instance do I use more than four liquid passes in a single floating head. The flow is across the short dimension of the floating headers. By using two Q5. My construction has many. advantages The downwardly or to lift the channel and the tube bundles from the supports for cleaning and inspection. When the shell is dropped downwardly the entire tube bundle is exposed and it is necessary only to remove the bolts on the upper shell joint. Only one liquid connection must be broken, namely the condensate drain line of the shell cover. Corrosion is confined to the shell cover which is removable and replaceable and comparatively inexpensively constructed. The channel which carries the pressure loadI on the entire unit is located above the shell in contact with dry vapor and out of the range of condensate corrosion. 'Ihe pressure bearing compartments exposed to corrosion are the floating heads which are made of thick cross section so that the additional metal will be able to withstand corrosive contact. Furthermore, the floating heads are comparatively cheap and may be easily replaced when necessary.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is `contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is:

1. A vapor condenser comprising in combination a supporting ring, lugs integral therewith and adapted to support the entire weight of the condenser assembly, a header removably secured to one side of said supporting ring and a casing removably secured to the other side of said supporting ring.

2. A vapor condenser comprising in combination a supporting ring, lugs integral therewith and adapted to support the entire weight of the condenser assembly, a vapor inlet nozzle and a vapor outlet nozzle integral with said ring, a header removably secured to one side of said ring and a casing removably secured to the other side of said ring.

3. A vapor condenser including in combination a supporting ring, lugs attached to said ring adapted to support the entire weight of the assembly, a

fixed header carried by said ring, a plurality of independent floating headers, tubes extending between said headers, said headers being formed by channel members machined out of single billets and cooperating cover plates, and continuous gaskets between said channel members and said cover plates.

4. A vapor condenser having in combination a xed header, a plurality of tube bundles suspended therefrom', floating headers secured to said tube bundles, said tubes being expanded in respective tubes-holes whereby liquid may ow between the headers through said tubes, said floating headers being supported entirely by said tubes allowing the weight of the floating headers to act in maintaining the alignment of the tubes, a supporting ring, said fixed header attached to and supported by said supporting ring said lugs secured to said supporting ring adapted to support the entire weight of the assembly.

5. In a high pressure hydrocarbon vapor condenser having a supporting ring, a fixed header supported thereby, a plurality of independent oating headers, tube bundles extending between said headers, said floating headers being suspended from said fixed header by said tubes, the combination including a shell surrounding said tube bundles, a plurality of baffles within said shell defining a vapor passage around the tubes, a vapor inlet into said shell, at the upper part thereof, one of said baffles being disposed to effect a downward passage of the incoming vapors, whereby the condensate formed in the first vapor passage will iiow downwardly in the same direction as the vapors being condensed to wash the tubes to prevent tar or coke deposits being formed thereon, a removable lower cover for said shell adapted to collect the condensate and a condensate removing nozzle positioned on said cover, and means on said supporting ring for bearing the entire weight of the assembly.

6. A vapor condenser comprising in combination a supporting ring, lugs attached thereto and adapted to support the entire weight of the condenser assembly, a header removably secured to one side of said supporting ring and a casing removably secured to the other side of said supporting ring.

7. A vapor condenser comprising in combina.- tion asupporting ring, lugs attached thereto and adapted to support the entire weight of the condenser assembly, a vapor inlet nozzle and"a vapor outlet nozzle integral with said ring, a header removably secured to one side of said ring and a casing removably secured to the other side of said JOHN C. MAHONEY. 

